Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Slippery Slope, Indeed

We just returned from a 4 day mini-getaway in the Big D, and I have much to write about.

Yet, this blog post I read on Kim's blog this morning left me feeling that discussing my little vacation would be so wrong when our country's freedoms are literally being stripped away while we sleep.

The end of America as we know it is not as far away as we think, folks. It's frightening to look at how many freedoms and rights have been taken in the last few months. Gun sales are up because people are terrified of losing the right the even buy them.

I am positive we are headed for a communist society. The very idea that we as a nation would be "okay" with the government taxing ex post facto the bonuses of those AIG execs? While I'm not pleased with the fact that the execs at AIG grossly mishandled taxpayer money - I am quite sure that the federal government is not going to give that money back to us. And I am not at all pleased with the idea of a government that can go about changing the rules as they see fit with executive orders that open us up for foreign attacks on our soil and at the same time, use our money for murder-for-hire causes.

I know what you're thinking..."She's done gone off the deep end". I say that jokingly, but I'm no conspiracy theorist...anyone who has half a brain can see what's happening to our country. As Christians, we need to be aware of what is going on - it's truly a time for prayer. I am praying for our nation and our president. I am praying that he will come to know the Jesus I know.

I am praying the prayer of Abraham...that God will be able to look down and spare the nation for just one righteous man. I am thankful to have the peace of God through this time, because as frightening as it is - I have read the back of the book and I know how it ends. Romans 8:18 states "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

I think my biggest concern is that if Jesus doesn't come back soon, my children are going to be living in a vastly different world than what we know today. It has already changed drastically from my own childhood, I hate to postulate as to what it might become. I can only cling to my favorite verses (Romans 8:37-39) that remind us that no matter what happens, we cannot be separated from the love of God.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I realize this is quite a departure from my standard "fare", but I'm really interested in your thoughts on this subject - are you talking with your kids about this? (You should be) Do you think I'm crazy? Do you think I'm right? Have you even thought about this? Is this the first time you've been exposed to some of these articles? So don't hold back....shoot it straight to me in the comments. I can handle it.

And here's one of my favorite songs on the subject, for your listening pleasure:

Yes, yes, YES!!! So many among us don't know that the success of our country in the beginning was because we had real, God-fearing, praying, Christian men (and women!) listening to the guidance of God. Prayer, when associated with government, is now only an ornament rather than a heart-felt plea with our Savior for guidance and provision.

The thing that scares me the most is the way the world is, read the things that are important to most people in our society. It is getting harder and harder to avoid those things unless you are in DEEP relationship with God.

So many thoughts here...and they're all tangled up at the moment. On the one hand, we MUST pray, believe, act, serve, and stand UP FOR and ON Biblical principles. On the other hand, our society is going the way of all "great" societies in history. God's judgement? In a way, yes, I think. More accurately, it seems that we are living with the consequences of sowing and reaping.

I am increasingly impatient with those who take the name Christian, yet are unwilling to take the social, economical and political risks associated with living out a literal interpretation of the Scriptures.

Okay. So. I think I probably have different views on politics and our country than do most of your readers. Rather than drawing upon that which I don't agree with (because I think there is FAR too much of that discourse right now), I want to focus on the place I wholeheartedly agree.

Prayer.

We live amongst people who are in desperate need for Jesus. The Southern Baptist Northern American Mission Board reports that 3 out of 4 people in North America don't know Jesus. How can this be? We have more freedom to share Christ than anyone on the planet!

Prayer.

We need to pray for our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our children, our parents, those we know and love and those we have not yet met. Pray that God would send out His Holy Spirit, preparing people to receive the Good News and find hope in Christ. We live in a nation without hope. Our president once told David Letterman he thinks "this country is still the last best hope on earth." We, the Church, we know better.

We must pray, pray, pray that WE, the CHURCH, would be, as Dana said above, willing "to take the social, economical and political risks associated with living out a literal interpretation of the Scriptures." We, the CHURCH, must keep our hearts fixed on the Great Commission to GO and TELL.

Our land is in desperate need of revival. It won't start in Washington, I can nearly guarantee that. Just today, I was reading this post (via Conversion Diary) where the writer talks about how if WE are what we should be, we can set the world on fire. Starting right in our own homes and communities.

Some are called to political action. All of us are called to pray unceasingly. All of us are called to the cause of Christ.

I am pretty sure I have at least half a brain, and I don't see most of this. Sure, some of it: I think that judge was wrong about the homeschooled kids and that should (and likely will) be appealed and overturned. I don't know what the Ohio Department of Agriculture was thinking with the farm coop. Those are disturbing, but I don't see how those things are the fault of or really have anything to do with either the president or communism.

I think people are throwing around the word communism a lot these days when they really mean socialism---but we are not yet entering democratic socialism let alone true socialism. Seriously, who is talking about the government controlling the means of production? If Obama announces that in his press conference tonight, yep, we've got a problem. But that's not happening. Congress will not let it. You, me, the people will not let it. Your post is evidence of that--which is why I also think it's evidence that we need not fear this extreme. To me saying we're becoming communist does seem a bit paranoid and/or a distraction from debating specifics on their merits. Communism is, ahem, a "Red" herring! (Ha ha! Sorry, bad pun...)

We have checks and balances in this country and yes, I think they work. They will work even better if we spend as much time paying attention to the nuances of policy and communicating with our elected representatives about which direction we want to go as we do worrying and whispering about what bad things might happen. I totally understand being concerned about deficits or spending or certain programs. We can all talk about and debate the merits and necessities (or not) of these things. We should point out wrongs when they occur and consistently engage with our leaders to hold our government accountable.

And yes, let's pray. No disagreement on that!

(I'm not sure what to make of your implication that maybe President Obama doesn't know Jesus, though. Hope you didn't mean that. He has confessed his belief in Christ publicly many times, long attended Christian church (though w/o a church home right now), and exhibited great transformation in his personal life. We should all pray for his actions but the state of his soul, by the standards we would judge others we know, appears to be an area of common ground between him and you and me.)

Here is a column from the conservative David Brooks relating to the "socialism" question in that it shows the administration's perspective on some of the policies being debated and enacted right now--and also how they are not going as far to the left on them as often accused or actually as they could. Brooks doesn't agree with all these points and probably neither will you, but I would encourage you to read this and tonight watch the President's press conference and see if he seems to be advocating these somewhat liberal yet still pretty mainstream ideas . . . or a proletarian revolution toward godless communism. To me it is quite clear that what we should be debating the merits of these days is the former, not the latter.

Wendy, I think "worrying and whispering about what bad things might happen" sounds a touch condescending. Nevertheless, isn't that exactly what spurs people to keep their representatives accountable? Why bother if we aren't worried about what might happen?

And just because we aren't yet entering into democratic socialism doesn't mean we aren't headed downhill in a handbasket in that direction. And I think that merits some whispering and worrying.

Finally, I think your assertion that "Congress will not let it" is naive. How about the largest spending bill in U.S. history they just passed WITHOUT SO MUCH AS READING IT? We're supposed to trust that bunch to protect us from sliding into socialism/communism?

I didn't mean to sound condescending but I think that's fair, I may have sounded that way, so I apologize. Worry can spur action, too. I guess I was thinking of the kind of worrying that takes the form of pulling back from engagement with our culture and representatives. Just worry, no involvement.

I don't mean trust Congress because I think they are all that great necessarily--yeah, a lot of times they drop the ball. But we have two major parties and they all work for us. So I mean they will not let extremes happen because the other side will check them--and if they don't we, their bosses, should throw the bums out. I do to a certain extent trust our system.

Just to reiterate, too, though--that's not an ultimate trust. What is Caesar's is ultimately just Caesar's; God is sovereign and his church will endure.

Thanks for the link, Karen! I especially appreciate your commitment to teaching your children--both their American history and government and their Bible!

For those of you who are counting on the checks and balances and depending upon your elected officials to reign things in; it is clear to me that neither party is willing to stand up and speak against the confiscatory tax policies that have been shepherded through the House by Barnie Frank and will be shepherded through the Senate by Chris Dodd. Individuals are being punished via our tax system. It is happening folks. Contract law means nothing in American.

I have had this sense of foreboding since last fall, that we are hurling towards something awful. I look around my world, my America, and I don't much like what I see. The culture stinks. Instead of becoming more civilized, we are becoming less. I hate the celebrity worship, the materialism. This is not the world I want my child to inherit. I feel small and powerless to effect any real change except within my own heart, my own home. And maybe that's enough.

YES! I am very scared about where our country is heading. And, I'm even more scared that so many people are so mesmerized by our president and can't see what he's really doing. I don't even know what to do, other than pray.

I so agree. I am trying not to worry knowing God has it all in His hands. If we read and believe the Bible, we can see the handwriting on the wall. The rapture can't be far off. Look at what is going on in and around Israel? God is not done with them, and when this nation turns against them we will be truly done for. Sin is rampant in our country and I fully feel the only reason we are still going is our stand with Israel. God is showing us mercy and grace.

Pray for our nation and leaders and pray for Israel as God tells us to.

Wow! Such great comments. I just want to add that "worry" is not our job. We are to be confident in our God and trust Him. That doesn't mean we won't suffer or that we shouldn't pray without ceasing....of course we should take action. But we don't need to use our energy worrying. It just leads to poor health and a lack of trust in the God of the universe.

He tells us in His Word not to fear....so I will not. I don't look forward to what the future holds for our nation, or for my children. I pray for change, I teach my children the truth of what is happening. But I don't worry.

I normally don't comment on things that people post on the internet unless it's amen and encourage them. However, I find myself unable to not speak upon this posting.

It's not my intent to convince anybody of anything. I learned a long time ago that anything of import is a matter of - you see it or you don't - and the human will do what the human wants to do. No one changes another’s mind but God. (Pro 21.1)

A person's worldview determines everything. It is the master control for all their filters. No one has a perfect worldview. That's part of what life is for - maturing in your understanding. Often people have the same evidence and facts available before them. It's their worldview that determines what the facts "mean". It's their presuppositions, their faith.

For myself the AV Bible is the revealed, inerrant, infallible, sufficient Word of Almighty God, Maker of The Heavens and the Earth. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Tim 3.16; 2 Pe 1.21)It is the only thing that is reliably absolute. (Isa 40.8; Pro 21.20)

I realize. Jesus did not say, "Quick boys, stock pile swords and spears! Ceasar is gonna try and set ya'll on fire one day!" Nor did Paul. But he did command us to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves. (Mt 10.16)

Everyone talks about our "Founding Fathers". No one studies them. What is happening now is a culmination of things in motion since before the birth of our country. We now have wishbones where Americans once had backbones.

The flag does NOT represent our government. The flag represents the Republic - a commonwealth with power in elected representatives. It passed away long ago other than in the hearts of a very few, a remnant, that have not lost their heritage. We were born a Republic not a democracy - not a Laodicea or rule by the people.

People no longer know that this nation was the united States of america; that u. S. a. citizenship was to be derived from citizenship of their state; that our forefathers speaking of their country meant their state. ... So much more not enough room.

We have crossed over Woodrow Wilson's "threshold" and have been socialistic for many years. F.D.R brought John Maynard Keynes socialism into mainstream government thinking. We had a small respite as men like Milton Freidmen became influential.

Alas, there has not been any leadership that's conservative by conviction since Ronald Reagan. Now there was a man with guts that did not willingly serve the twin gods of Politically Correct & Conform Cowardly in their temple of Secure Feeling that demands the bloody sacrifice of Truth and Reality. He actually had the nerve to call the Soviet Union "the Evil Empire".

Splitting hairs over isms that ought to be wasms does not change reality. Communism, Socialism, Leninism, Stalinism they are all variants of Marxism. Marx was a evolutionist and influenced by Darwin. A most ungodly foundation indeed!

Our founders did not desire a government to be in the stead of their "Heavenly Father" fixing their problems facilitating the "good life" for them and absolving them of their personal accountability and responsibility. Ben Franklin - "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

The Constitution has been violated and the checks and balances of three branch bicameral legislature have been made a mockery of for some time. Our so-called Two Party System is nothing more than a facade of good-cop/bad-cop.

The President is due respect for position (1 Tim 2.2; Rom 13.1-7) but that doesn't mean we should deceive ourselves and others. He is gifted and has applied himself and become a strong leader. (I pray for him he will turn to God and seek the wisdom of Christ.) That however does not make him right or even a remotely attached to the ideals of traditional Americans.

He cannot lay claim to the Christianity of any Bibliocentric mainline Christian faith that the Baptist or the Protestant churches have historically defended. This is not an attack on him it is a defense of the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, stated that a tree is either good or corrupt and to recognize it, label it one way or the other. (Mt 7.17-19; Mt 12.33) He tells us he does not like fence-sitters. (Rev 3.16)

Professors of faith are not necessarily Possessors of Faith. He said many will call Him Lord and he will deny ever knowing them (Mt7.21-23). Knowing he's Lord and even calling him Lord does not make one a Christian or right. If you only believe in God then that by itself is only good enough to put you in the company of devils. That is, unless, you want to make devil himself a Christian. Then again he can transform himself into an angel of light and deceive many. His ministers are similarly equipped. (2 Co 11:13-15)

What is his testimony? His "Call to Renewal" speech of 2006 is just one example of his open departure from and distortion of Christian faith. There are many others. Change the gospel and you have another Jesus and the Bible is clear in the consequences. (Gal 1.6-10) He also is following a philosophy designed to bring capitalism down know as the CLOWARD-PIVEN STRATEGY. However, for the Christian neither human being nor political machines are the problem. We wrestle against far more sinister foes. Powers and Principalities and their unseen satanic system are the enemy.(Eph 6.12; 2 Cor 4.4) We must trust God and follow His word walking watchfully (Eph 5.1-15)

To stop but not to finish for so much more could be said I shall let two other men's voices be heard.

"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. ; To sit home, read one’s favorite paper, and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do things is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count upon the good men’s doing. ; If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness." - Teddy Roosevelt.

The Gospel makes all the difference between whether you are merely conservative or whether you are conquering worldliness in the power of the Spirit for the glory of Christ. - John Piper

Sounds like y'all have been having a lot of the same thoughts and feelings as I have. I do get worried about my little ones and have had that same sense of foreboding since election night. My conclusions run the same as some of the rest of you: we have to pray, we have to be spreading the Gospel, we have to speak up to our local newspapers, our congressmen, etc. I don't think our congressmen and the president really care what we the people think, frankly, but we have to let our voices be heard. And then pray some more. We cannot afford to go on our merry little ways and hope it all works out.

Karen, this is an awesome post and I thank you for sharing. I agree that I was not happy with the AIG bonus things, but the idea that the government just decides to make its own rules to take the money is ludicrous. I am leery of what is to be, but you are right that we have peace in God and knowing that one day all will be right if we believe! Hope you are having a great week.

Lots of good stuff here -- the post and the comments. It really is scary to look around and see what is going on. I'm so thankful we have a God who does not change, a God who is sovereign. I pray we can equip our kids for whatever the future holds.